Head Chef

Job Description

Northern Roots is creating the UK’s largest urban farm and eco-park on 160-acres of underused greenspace in Oldham, Greater Manchester – a unique community hub and visitor destination. The charity aims to benefit the environment, and to improve the health, wellbeing and livelihoods of local communities. Food is at the heart of our vision. 

In autumn 2026, we will open our new Welcome Building, Forestry Skills Centre, play area, outdoor amphitheatre and a further four acres of Urban Farm, the next phase in creating a unique visitor attraction and community asset.

We are working with a renowned chef Mary-Ellen McTague to develop the concept for the Café. Based in the Welcome Building, our café will showcase produce grown on site, alongside produce from other local suppliers, providing visitors with a warm welcome that reflects the ambition of the wider project.

We are looking for a passionate, ambitious and experienced Head Chef to lead café operations, food production for the shop, and catering for meetings and events.

Working closely with the Northern Roots Farm team, the Head Chef will create and deliver accessible, seasonal menus that celebrate home-grown produce and sustainable kitchen practices. They will combine creativity with strong operational management to ensure consistently high standards of flavour, presentation and service.

The Head Chef will work closely with the F&B General Manager to create a welcoming, inclusive and enjoyable experience for visitors, staff, volunteers and partners. Together, they will help build a café that is known not only for its social and environmental impact, but also for its quality, professionalism and hospitality.

The Head Chef will lead and inspire a team of paid staff, work placements and volunteers, creating a positive, supportive and professional kitchen culture where people can learn, develop and thrive. We believe community-focused food should be every bit as ambitious, delicious and well-executed as any commercial operation. This is an opportunity to help create a café experience that Oldham can be proud of. 

Job Requirements

We are looking for a passionate, ambitious and experienced Head Chef to lead café operations, food production for the shop, and catering for meetings and events. Creative, flexible and entrepreneurial, with strong inter-personal skills, you will be genuinely inspired by the opportunty to work closely with an experienced Urban Farm team to create a compelling farm to fork experience for visitors.

Job Location

Northern Roots
Kings Road
Oldham OL8 2BH